Consultancy’s multi-billion-dollar AI gamble, but where is the real return? Consulting Consultancy firms have pumped a lot of money into frontier AI tools that have fundamentally changed tasks traditionally done by juniors. But the return on investment question lingers, writes Maria Ward-Brennan. Model ML’s platform for the consultancy market has automated manual steps such as supporting research, presentation and Excel model creation, and reviewing client-facing materials. [...]
UK’s wealthiest financier Michael Platt sues own lawyer for professional negligence Legal The UK’s wealthiest financier, Michael Platt, and his hedge fund are suing their former lawyer for alleged professional negligence and preparing for a trial. The claim was filed in September last year against Malcolm Gammie KC, a barrister at One Essex Court, following the billionaire and his firm being in a long-running dispute with HMRC [...]
Consultancies vulnerable as government plots non-compete axe Prof Services Government proposals to scrap non-compete clauses may have ‘significant implications’ for the wider professional services sector. In the Budget, John Healey confirmed that the government is introducing legislation to reform non-compete clauses in employment contracts across the economy, in a bid to lubricate the labour marker for startups and scaling firms. The government will publish [...]
Employees in partner’s clothing? HMRC in ‘aggressive pursuit’ of LLPs November 4, 2026 HMRC is actively writing to limited liability partnerships (LLPs) as firms race to reassess their members’ tax status after the landmark legal ruling, even as both sides “hold their cards close to their chests.” Members of an LLP are treated as self-employed partners, meaning they don’t pay the 15 per cent employer’s national insurance contributions [...]
Complaints against barristers’ social media conduct more than double November 3, 2026 Complaints against barristers’ conduct on social media to the bar watchdog have more than doubled, largely driven by online commentary about the Gaza conflict and gender rights. In its 2025/26 report, the Bar Standards Board, which oversees over 18,000 English and Welsh barristers, said it assessed 279 complaints of social media conduct over the past [...]
London-listed Knights’ recent acquisition results in staff layoffs November 3, 2026 AIM-listed Knights Group’s acquisition of South East England law firm Moore Barlow has resulted in several redundancies among business services staff. On Monday, London-listed legal and professional services firm Knights Group informed shareholders that it had completed its acquisition of the regional law firm with offices in Guildford, Lymington, Richmond, Southampton and Woking, with roots [...]
PwC names new head to lead Business Services practice November 3, 2026 Big Four giant PwC UK has appointed a new head to lead its business services practice, an arm that focuses on eight sectors, including legal and professional services. Rebecca Cooke, a partner in the firm’s consulting practice with over 12 years at the firm, will serve as its UK business services leader, replacing current head [...]
UK cyber consulting set for explosive growth after wave of AI attacks November 2, 2026 British cyber consulting is poised for an explosion in growth as boardroom paranoia over AI and hacking fuels demand for external expertise, research has suggested. The UK’s cybersecurity consulting market is expected to have grown about 17 per cent to £2.2bn this year, up from 9.8 per cent in 2025, according to Source Global Research. [...]
BCG faces HMRC tax probe in consulting sector crackdown November 2, 2026 Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is the latest professional services firm to be scrutinised by HMRC over its partnership structure and tax calculations for senior staff. The tax authority is conducting an inquiry into how the consulting group determines whether its partners are technically self-employed or employees for income tax and national insurance contribution (NIC) purposes, [...]
Weil’s ‘Titanic’ ordeal rocks firm’s London lawyers October 29, 2026 The unravelling of one of the world’s most prestigious law firms, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, has shaken its London lawyers, with one partner describing it as “a Titanic situation.” “This is probably the worst succession planning in legal history,” a former Weil partner told City AM. “I’m shocked about this…It’s crazy to me this is [...]